In your face Dodgers!

I don’t care whether or not you love or hate Brian Sabean; you have to admit, he’s had a heck of a good offseason. Yesterday’s Randy Johnson signing was great, since the upside far outweighs any possible downside and here’s why:

1. He can still pitch! 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA; 30 starts, 184 IP; 173 K’s and only 44 walks! After the All-Star break his ERA was 2.41 with a WHIP right around 1.00 (86 IP, 74 hits, 16 BB’s). Terrific numbers for a back-end of the rotation starter. If he was 10 years younger, he probably would have a 4 year deal at $10 million a year.

2. He will put butts in the seats. Johnson is only 5 wins short of 300. If he pitches, they will come. Now you might be saying to yourself, “What the hell do I care. I’m just a fan. If the Giants make more money, they’re not going to send it to me.” Yes, they won’t send it to you, but money is going to be even more important in baseball this year simply because so many teams just might not have any.

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The economy is in the dumper and I don’t see it getting any better in ’09; in fact, I see it getting worse. If you don’t think this will affect baseball (and every other sport), you’re crazy. We’re seeing it already. The Padres are in salary dump mode. The D’backs have fired a good chunk of their front office staff and haven’t done a thing this off-season. The Rockies dumped Matt Holliday rather than pay him and I’ll bet they’re not finished. The Dodgers for a while now, have been rumored to have money problems. The Astros closed their academy in Venezuela and the Cubs can’t do a thing till the team is sold (The Tribune Co., which owns them, is in Chapter 11).

As unbelievable as it sounds, the Giants are one of the few teams in baseball right now who have money, especially after signing that new TV deal with Comcast Sports Net. Signing Johnson only helps keep the coffers filled. Now, in 2011, when the Giants are ready to make their move, they can sign any big time hitter they want.

3.Signing Johnson doesn’t block any of the Giants top prospects. It’s only a one year deal and the Giants three top starting pitching prospects (Bumgarner, Alderson and Pucetas) are at least a year away, having never pitched above A ball.

4. If the Giants stink, he can be traded at the deadline. Should Johnson pitch well, but the Giants find themselves out of it by the trade deadline, he can be traded to a contender for a prospect, especially since he’ll cost next to nothing (in dollars) for any team that trades for him.

5. Yes, there’s a downside. But it’s not much of one. Let’s face it; Johnson is 45 years old with a history of back trouble. He could easily break down; but so what. This is not the Zito or Rowand debacle. The Giants are only on the hook for $8 million, still chump change in today’s baseball.

I still wouldn’t trade Sanchez or Cain. I’m not going to go into this again, because I’m tired of beating a dead horse, but unless Sabean is going to get Ryan Braun, David Wright or some other young stud, I wouldn’t bother. And by the way, you can forget Braun or Wright unless you’re willing to deal Lincecum, and that’s not happening.

The lineup is not great, but it’s better than last year. With Johnson this team has a shot at the playoffs. The Giants are the only team in the West that’s improved; the others have gotten worse. Once in the postseason who knows what can happen when you go into a short series with Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez and Johnson. I don’t think you have to sacrifice the future for what now looks like a VERY interesting present.

Warren Greshes

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Nice to see Brian Sabean’s relatives posting blogs. Once again Sabean addresses positions the Giants don’t need and now Sabean will ride on his high horse and say “I told you I would sign Johnson” Great off season Brian.

http://sanjosemercurynews cam datzker

What a great signing in acquiring veteran lefthander Randy Johnson.
However, Giant Fans we still need to address our need for power down
the line-up. how about Dodger slugger Manny Ramirez hitting no. 4?
If we can’t sign manny, What about bay area product Pat Burrell?
Who’a going to man 3rd base? What about signing ex-White Sox 3rd
baseman Joe Crede or even the non tendered Ty Wiggington?
We are not that far from being a legitimate contender in The Nl west.
I suggest that a pick-up of Ex-Cubbie outfielder Jimmy Edmonds to be a back-up in the outfield and sign ex-Met Oliver Perez to bolster our
pitching staff. Go Giants

Lastly don’t forget Bobby Abreu play L.F. he I believe is a free agent.

GiantsFan

Give me a break–another pathetic move by Sabaen to put people in seats to watch a pathetic team–when are they going to fire him and finally get somebody who can put a team together that will be competitive instead of these of freaking marketing ploys—what a joke–

poopoosah

Now trade for Anrew Jones, Sabean!!!

poopoosah

oops… i meant Andrew, yes the same Andrew that plays for the dodgers

poopoosah

Let’s bring Pierzinsky back, too!!! i think Russ Ortiz is still available, let’s try that again

Woody

Sabean has had a very solid off season. The Giants had a dismal record in one run games and also struggled with 1-2 run late inning leads. Sabean has addressed the bullpen. Due to the Johnson signing, the Giants have one of the top 5 starting staffs in baseball (on paper). He added a little pop a shortstop. I’m not Sabeans relative but I can see the Giants are 7-10 games better than last year’s team. Need a hitter?
Absolutely! But not at the expense orf shoddy defense (Bradley, Manny, Dunn,etc.). By mid-summer, the Giants are going to be up to their eyeballs in good, young pitching. A trade will happen….

Gillano

Woody, your satified with the team being only 7-10 games better then last year? Sabian did nothing to shore up the biggest problem with this team. Offense! I don’t care how bad Manny is on “D”, he is the most feared hitter since Barry. They need to do whatever it takes to sign him. 2 years, 40 mil.

ontheedgeofacliff

i dont care that you signed a pitcher 45 years of age or a short stop that is on the down hill ski slope of his career for way TOO much money but hey, at least I KNOW they should get a top 10 pick next year!

merry xmas and happy new years suckers!

This Team Stinks

That’s Andruw Jones, fellas, and you’ve got to be kidding or else drunk out of your gourd if you want that slug on the Giants. Hey, I can’t help it
if Andruw’s motha can’t spell her way out of a paper bag…

sabean sucks

Sanchez would bring a lot more than Swisher. That sounds like a trade Sabean would make.